Church Takes Hand in Election Contest

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 635, 11 April 1929, Page 1

Church Takes Hand in Election Contest

APPEAL TO CHRISTIANS FIVE CONSIDERATIONS (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 1.59 p.m. LONDON, Wednesday. Fifteen Anglican Bishops and leaders of Presbyterian and Non-conform-ist churches have issued a message appealing to Christian electors to give full weight to the following five considerations: They must return to Parliament men and women who insist that all international disputes, without exception, be referred to arbitration, and who will, without delay, press forward a drastic reduction of armaments. They must demand a more intense and more comprehensive effort to grapple with the coal industry problem. Though the relief of distress is of necessity a palliative, it leaves the real problem unsolved. There rnust be a more aggressive policy in slum clearance and improved housing. Previous efforts have been inadequate to deal with this intolerable wrong. Education must be continued beyond the age of 14. A disastrous deterioration over-frequently occurs at present between the ages of 14 and IS. Though payments deplorably known as “doles” imply some recognition of the common responsibility, they cannot be regarded as an adequate solution. They must elect candidates who will do their utmost to secure opportunities of either work in Britain or overseas for all, especially the young who at present have no hope of finding it.